[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 44 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           CHARITABLE GIVING

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                         HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 12, 2009

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of charitable 
giving.
  Americans give generously.
  In the weeks following the deadly 2004 tsunami in Asia, donations 
from American charities outpaced official government aid by more than 
$100 million.
  When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast of our nation, 
Americans responded with faster and more forceful giving than ever 
before. In the first 10 days, charitable giving topped $700 million. 
Ultimately, more than $4 billion was donated to the recovery effort.
  Since the mid-1990s, charitable giving has accounted for roughly 2 
percent of our annual GDP, which is more than double the rate of giving 
in any other country.
  And Madam Speaker, most donations don't come from big business. They 
come from hardworking Americans. Individuals account for 75 percent of 
charitable giving.
  Recently, some have proposed limitations on the tax deduction for 
charitable giving. We face a staggering deficit, and I believe we must 
balance the budget--but not by raising taxes on these donations.
  It has long been a hallmark of the U.S. tax code that giving gets a 
tax break. Today, I joined Rep. Ros-Lehtinen of Florida to introduce a 
resolution that would state this Chamber's support for charitable 
giving and its opposition to raising taxes on donations. At this time 
of great need at home and abroad, we must not make it harder for 
Americans to give. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing a tax 
increase on charitable donations.

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